Chapter 156 - 139: What Kind of Steamed Buns Does the Fairy Want to Eat?

"Greetings, Fairy Jiang."

Xiao Mo politely bowed to the Sword Cultivator from the Wanjian Sect before him.

Not far from Xiao Mo, Jiang Qingyi, her face veiled, just watched him calmly.

Just like the last time they met, Xiao Mo felt as if her gaze could see right through him.

The feeling was as if he had once done something terrible to her.

"Fairy Jiang?" Xiao Mo asked, a hint of question in his voice.

"Mm." After a long moment, Jiang Qingyi finally came back to her senses and walked toward the gate of her National Preceptor’s Mansion. "Since Your Majesty is here, please come in and sit for a while, if you don’t mind."

"Very well."

Xiao Mo followed Jiang Qingyi inside.

Wei Xun also tried to enter the National Preceptor’s Mansion, but a wave of Sword Qi blocked his path.

Wei Xun had no choice but to stand outside the mansion.

’Although this woman seems cold, most Sword Cultivators are like this. Besides, she has no grudge against His Majesty, so it’s impossible that she would harm him.’

A short while later, the maids in the National Preceptor’s Mansion also came out one by one, saying that the National Master preferred quiet and disliked having so many people in the courtyard.

In the courtyard of the National Preceptor’s Mansion.

Xiao Mo sat down beside Jiang Qingyi.

The two of them drank their tea in silence, maintaining a certain distance.

’In my opinion,’ Xiao Mo thought, ’this female disciple from the Wanjian Sect is indeed a bit cold. She even seems to look down on me, the Emperor of the Zhou Kingdom.’

’But that’s to be expected. Given the Zhou Kingdom’s strength, the Wanjian Sect’s willingness to accept it as a vassal is already a great blessing in many people’s eyes.’

’Besides, she’s only cold.’

’Some of the more depraved National Masters have been known to demand the company of the Empress, Empress Dowager, and Princesses.’

’If I want her to take me seriously, I, as Emperor, must first reclaim my authority and strengthen the kingdom. Only when I am strong will others respect me.’

"I wonder, why did Fairy Jiang think to establish the National Preceptor’s Mansion within the rear palace?" Xiao Mo asked.

"No particular reason. I just wanted some peace and quiet. It’s not like you have any concubines in your rear palace anyway," Jiang Qingyi replied coolly, her sword-like eyes glancing at Xiao Mo. "I hear Your Majesty is engrossed in cultivating Daoist Skills?"

Xiao Mo smiled. "Well, I have nothing to do in the rear palace anyway. I might as well study Daoist Skills to cultivate my mind and body."

"Mm." Jiang Qingyi nodded, lifted a corner of her veil slightly, and took a sip of tea.

Xiao Mo tried to see her face, but unfortunately, he still saw nothing.

The two fell into silence once again. Xiao Mo felt very awkward being with her.

"I won’t disturb you any longer, Fairy Jiang. If you need anything in the future, feel free to tell a Palace Maid at any time." Xiao Mo stood up, planning to go to the Wendao Platform to practice his swordsmanship. "I shall take my leave now."

"I’m a little hungry."

Just as Xiao Mo stood up, the woman’s voice came from beside him.

"What would you like to eat, Fairy Jiang? I can have the Imperial Kitchen prepare something for you," Xiao Mo said, looking at the woman sitting on the stone stool.

Jiang Qingyi thought for a moment, then slowly said, "Do you have any steamed buns?"

"Steamed buns?" Xiao Mo was taken aback for a second. "What kind of steamed buns would you like, Fairy?"

"Mm." Jiang Qingyi raised her head, meeting Xiao Mo’s gaze directly. "Regular meat buns will be fine. Don’t be in a hurry to leave. Eat with me."

...

「Minister of Rites’ Mansion.」

By the shore of Jinli Lake, a woman in a white dress picked up fish food, tossing it into the lake piece by piece.

"Big Sister." Xiao Qing appeared silently behind the woman in white. "The National Preceptor’s Mansion in the Zhou Kingdom’s rear palace has been set up. Jiang Qingyi entered the Imperial Palace today."

"Mm." Yan Ruxue nodded, still calmly scattering the fish food in her hand.

"Big Sister, will Jiang Qingyi do something to Brother Xiao...?" Xiao Qing asked worriedly.

"She won’t."

Yan Ruxue shook her head.

"Jiang Qingyi’s past experiences destine her to feel very conflicted when she sees Xiao Mo. Right now, she wants to get close but doesn’t dare. She’s not even willing to let Xiao Mo see her true face, even though he has no memories of that lifetime and wouldn’t recognize her at all.

"So, in the short term, she won’t make a move on Xiao Mo."

Xiao Qing: "..."

"Don’t worry. She’s just a little girl who’s a little over three thousand years old." Yan Ruxue turned around, a gentle smile in her eyes. "After I enter the palace, I’ll teach her a good lesson. Show her how to respect her elders and the Dao. That is my duty as her master’s wife."

"By the way, there’s something I need to ask you to investigate, Xiao Qing," Yan Ruxue said.

"What is it, Big Sister?" Xiao Qing asked, puzzled.

"Do you know about the Emperor of the Qin Kingdom?"

"You mean the Sovereign of Qin, who is said to be more beautiful than most women in the world?"

"Hehehe... more beautiful than women." A corner of Yan Ruxue’s mouth lifted, a strange look in her eyes. "But who’s to say whether the Sovereign of Qin is a man or a woman?"

"But even so, Big Sister, is there something special about them?"

"Xiao Qing, do you know what an Ancient Sacred Body is?" Yan Ruxue asked.

"Of course I do. Some people are born with the memories of all their past lives. For them, cultivation is nothing more than retracing a path they’ve already walked. That is the Ancient Sacred Body."

Xiao Qing replied.

"But Big Sister, they are an Emperor now. After ancient times, the Laws of Heaven and Earth changed. Unless they abdicate the throne, they cannot cultivate. If they were truly born with this knowledge, logically, they would have renounced their title long ago to pursue the Great Dao."

"Silly girl." Yan Ruxue reached out and tapped her sister’s forehead. "What if I told you that a long, long time ago, there was an Empress who successfully cultivated and even stepped into the Supreme Realm?"

Xiao Qing was even more confused. "Then what does that have to do with us?"

"I’m not entirely sure myself, which is why I’m asking you to probe them." Yan Ruxue shook her head and looked into the distance. "This person has been continuously expanding their territory, and specifically in the direction of the Zhou Kingdom. I have a feeling she’s coming for the Zhou Kingdom."

...

「Meanwhile, in the Qin Kingdom Royal Palace.」

In most Human Race Dynasties, eunuchs could walk through the front and central halls of the Imperial Palace, but entering the rear palace almost always required special documentation, and they were forbidden from privately entering the concubines’ courtyards.

But in the Qin Kingdom Royal Palace, there wasn’t a single eunuch; only Female Officials were employed.

After concluding the morning court session, the Sovereign of Qin returned to the rear palace and came to a painting pavilion.

The Sovereign of Qin had a habit. From time to time, she would paint a picture, place it in the pavilion, and then go to look at it in her leisure time.

"You may all withdraw," the Sovereign of Qin said to the Female Officials beside her.

"Yes, Your Majesty." The Female Officials curtsied and all departed.

The Sovereign of Qin opened the door and walked into the painting pavilion.

Inside the painting pavilion hung ink wash painting after ink wash painting.

And in every one of these paintings, there was a man.

Furthermore, the man in every painting had the exact same face.